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Your RTC. Our Community.


December 2017
RTC Commissioners, Below you will find your
December 2017 RTC Board Update eNews.
This electronic newsletter is distributed
monthly following your Board meeting.
From the RTC Board of Commissioners and RTC Staff, we wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!
 
All Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) transit services will be on a Sunday schedule on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25 and New Year's Day, Monday, January 1. RTC INTERCITY will not operate on either of these days, and administrative offices will be closed.
 
Passenger Services will be closed on both holidays as well. The RTC SIERRA SPIRIT, which operates on all holidays, will continue to run on both December 25 and January 1.
 
The community gathered on December 8, 2017 to celebrate the completion
of the Pyramid/McCarran Intersection Improvement Project.

Pyramid/McCarran Intersection
Improvement Project Complete

 

The Pyramid/McCarran Intersection Improvement Project is complete. The RTC would like to thank the community and nearby local businesses for their patience and cooperation during construction. The RTC marked the completion with a special ceremony on Friday, December 8, 2017.

This project represents a $73 million investment in the community made possible with federal dollars and RTC-5 fuel tax funding.

The Pyramid/McCarran Intersection Improvement Project will reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and enhance safety at this busy intersection with more than 60,000 vehicles traveling through it each day.

To see how the improvements have turned Sparks' busiest intersection into Sparks' best intersection, please watch The Road Ahead with RTC segment, below.

The Road Ahead with RTC: The Pyramid/McCarran Intersection Improvement Project 
completion and celebration.
Learn More at PyramidMcCarran.com
The Sparks side of the 4th Street/Prater Way Bus RAPID Transit Project
has been freshly paved and striped, with new sidewalks and
new lightpoles throughout.

4th Street/Prater Way
Bus RAPID Transit Project Update
 

The 4th Street/Prater Way Bus RAPID Transit Project is transitioning from the Sparks side of the project to the Reno side of the project.

The RTC recently hosted a 4th Street/Prater Way project stakeholders' meeting. Business owners and residents were able to meet the project team, learn about upcoming project phases and ask questions.

As construction continues through the colder months, residents can expect to see the placement of the curb and gutter on the south side of Prater Way below the I-80 interchange, and on the north side of Prater from 18th Street to 22nd Street.  The RTC also recently closed the intersection of El Rancho Drive and Prater Way for utility work. That closure is expected to last about three weeks, until the first week of January.

Crews will begin working along the south side of 4th Street from Galletti Way to Ferrari Street, and start construction on the Bus RAPID Transit (BRT) station near 15th Street.

The RTC appreciates everyone's patience throughout the construction process. Businesses are open and accessible during construction and the RTC encourages everyone to patronize businesses located in construction zones.

For more information, text 4PRATER to 797979 or visit 4thPrater.com to sign up for email notifications.
Learn More at 4thPrater.com

Bike Share Update


The RTC continues to work with our regional partners to evaluate the possibility of implementing a bike share program in our community. As we proceed with this process, the RTC is getting input from the local jurisdictions about how they would like to move forward.

The RTC has presented bike share information to the Reno City Council and is scheduled to present to the Washoe County Commission and the Sparks City Council in early January.

The presentations lay out the options for bike share in our community, including station-based, dockless and smart bikes. 
 
A bike share program could bring numerous benefits to our community. It provides another mobility choice for residents and visitors, and offers health, economic, tourism, and environmental benefits.
 
As we continue the pursuit of bringing a bike share program to our region, we may also be pursuing funding sources and potential community sponsorships, depending on which business model is selected.
Learn More at rtcwashoe.com

SMART TRIPS Program Promotes Alternative
Modes of Transportation


RTC's SMART TRIPS is a free service provided to the community by the RTC to encourage people to use alternative modes of transportation.  Currently, more than 1,300 people each day use the service and in the last fiscal year, the RTC has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by more than 12.6 million pounds. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of single-occupant trips, thereby reducing pollution and traffic congestion.

RTC SMART TRIPS works by providing a vanpool service, a matching service for people who carpool, bike or walk, a bus pass-subsidy program, and providing community outreach and education. The RTC VANPOOL program has been very successful this year, growing from 97 vanpools in 2016 to 135 vanpools to date, representing a 28% increase. This is the fastest-growing segment of our SMART TRIPS program, helping to meet the workforce transportation needs in our expanding economy.

RTC's carpool-matching database also grew by 12% year over year, indicating that community support for ridesharing is thriving.

Not only does RTC's SMART TRIPS program provide would-be drivers with an alternative way to get where they are going, the program also eliminates the stress and high cost of driving.

Employers in our area who are using the RTC VANPOOL service include Tesla, the Army National Guard, ebay, PPG Industries, Scougal Rubber Corp., and Battery Systems, among others.

Funding for the program comes through the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and is 95% federally funded and 5% locally funded.

If you're an employer or individual interested in establishing a program for your employees or coworkers, please contact Scott Miklos, RTC Trip Reduction Specialist, at 775-335-1920 or smiklos@rtcwashoe.com.
 
Learn More at rtcwashoe.com

New Electric Buses to Join RTC's Fleet 


The RTC is currently installing brand new electric bus charging infrastructure at RTC 4TH STREET STATION in anticipation of adding 17 new electric buses to its fleet in 2018.

Electric bus technology is quickly improving, and the new infrastructure will charge electric buses even more efficiently, allowing the buses to spend  less time charging and more time transporting passengers. The new buses will be able to travel up to 200 miles on a single charge.

During the installation of the new charging infrastructure at RTC 4TH STREET STATION, the RTC would like to remind everyone to use extra caution near construction areas. Do not enter areas that are blocked off during construction.

Commuters who use the RTC INTERCITY bus line will be able to use a new, temporary boarding and alighting location on the north side of 4TH STREET STATION's north building, near the corner of E. 4th Street and Evans Avenue. Riders can follow the directional signs posted at the original and temporary boarding locations.

Five new electric buses are set to join RTC's fleet in early 2018, with the remaining buses arriving later in the year.

The RTC continues to collaborate with local entities to advance sustainability efforts in the region. The RTC began replacing diesel fuel buses with electric buses in 2014. RTC's sustainability efforts have recently  been recognized by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the Nevada Chapter of the American Planning Association and GREENevada.
Learn More at rtcwashoe.com

Holiday Bus Pass Sale Extended


This holiday season give the gift of transportation and independence to a special someone. The RTC is extending its Holiday Bus Pass Special through January 2, 2018.

The following specials are available online only:
  • Get an Adult 24-Hour 10-Pass Bundle for $30 (Normally $37.50)
  • Get a Reduced* 24-Hour 10-Pass Bundle for $15 (Normally $17.50).
Bus passes make great gifts or items for community holiday donation drives. Community members can also purchase bus passes and donate them to local charitable organizations that provide transportation to seniors, kids, and individuals with disabilities.

To purchase, visit rtcwashoe.com through January 2.

*Reduced fares are available for youth, seniors and individuals with disabilities or on Medicare. An ID is required at the time of boarding for those using a reduced-fare pass.
 
Buy Bus Passes
Jocelyn Lantrip from the Food Bank of Northern Nevada stands with RTC Commissioners and RTC staffers at the December 15, 2017 meeting.

RTC Celebrated 25 Years of Food For Fare
 

The RTC's bus riders helped collect food for hungry families in our community during our 25th annual Food For Fare drive. The two-day event helped collect thousands of pounds of food for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada by allowing people to pay their bus fare with a non-perishable food item instead of money. The RTC would like to thank the community for their generous contributions to Food For Fare over the past 25 years.

With the  community's help and support, the RTC has collected more than 56 tons of food over the past 25 years, which has helped to feed more than 94,000 people.
 
Even though our economy has improved, high rent and housing costs mean that many people in our community are still struggling. In our state, more than 390,000 people don't know where their next meal is coming from. The Food Bank is helping more than 95,000 people each month, thanks to our community’s help.

We value our partnership with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada and appreciate the generosity of our riders.

We encourage everyone to donate and help our community during the holiday season.
 

Ride FREE on New Year's Eve
 

The RTC is marking 33 years of helping people celebrate responsibly. The New Year’s Eve FREE Safe RIDE program brings together community partners to cover the cost of providing free transit service. All regularly scheduled RTC transit services will be free on New Year’s Eve starting at 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

Keep in mind, not all locations are served by transit, so it’s recommended that everyone check route and schedule information at rtcwashoe.com to plan their trip.
 
We encourage everyone to ring in 2018 safely and responsibly and we are proud to provide this service that gives residents and visitors a safe transportation alternative. We couldn't offer this service without the support of our generous sponsors, including Renown Health, Club Cal Neva, Wood Rodgers, Morrey Distributing, the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitor's Authority (RSCVA), REMSA, Reno Firefighters Local 731, KOLO 8 News Now, and Cumulus Radio, including News Talk 780 KOH, 95.5 The Vibe, Wild 102.9, and K-Bull 98.1.

At the RTC, we’re looking forward to another exciting year of transit and transportation projects and programs that support this region's quality of life and make a difference in our community.
 
WATCH: The New Year's Eve FREE Safe RIDE commercial is airing now on KOLO 8 News Now.
See the New Year's Eve Bus Schedule
*RTC CUSTOMER SERVICES was formerly RTC PASSENGER SERVICES.
Watch the RTC Board's December 15, 2017 Meeting.

RTC Meetings Now Televised and Livestreamed
 

Our RTC Board meetings are now televised and livestreamed in order to provide the public with greater access to information and to increase government transparency.

The community can watch meetings on Charter Channel 193, or on RTC's YouTube page. The meeting video links will also be made available on RTC's Facebook and Twitter pages.

Our first televised RTC Board Meeting was the December 15, 2017 meeting.
 

Upcoming Events and Meetings
December 25

Holiday Observed by the RTC
RTC Transit on Sunday Schedule on Christmas Day
 
December 31 - January 1


RTC New Year's Eve FREE Safe RIDE from 6 p.m. - 2 a.m.
RTC Transit on Sunday Schedule on New Year's Day
 
January 1

RTC Administrative Offices Closed in Observance of New Year's Day
RTC Transit on Sunday Schedule on New Year's Day
 
 
January 3

CANCELED: RTC Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
 
January 3

CANCELED: RTC Citizens Multimodal Advisory Committee (CMAC)
 
January 19
 


RTC Board Meeting (9 a.m. at 1001 E. Ninth St., Bldg. A, in Reno)
 
Please contact Michael Moreno or me with any questions you may have.
Michael can be reached at (775) 335-1869 or email at mmoreno@rtcwashoe.com. 
Archived editions are available at: rtcwashoe.com.

Lee G. Gibson, AICP, Executive Director
Ph: (775) 348-0400 Fax: (775) 324-3503
E-mail: lgibson@rtcwashoe.com
Copyright © 2017 RTC, All rights reserved.


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